Retort for the distillation of coal



Dec. 5, 1933.

H. STEVENS RETORT FOR THE DISTILLATION OF COAL Filed Feb. 6, 1931 IN VEN TOR. .W M BY ATTORNEYS Fntented 5, 133

EE'TE@%'E FOB I-l DISTILLATION F Harold Stevens, tllnclmisti, one, once, lry

mesne ossien to Harold Stevens,

Application February 8, 1931. Serial No. 513 849 2 @laims. (o1. 202-49) This invention relates to retorts for the dis-- tlllstlon of cool and is especially useful where the host required for distillation is provided b electrics! energy. I

Que of the primary objects ofthe invention is to prevent electrical leakage.-

Ihe foregoing, together with such other ob iects and advantages as may be incident to the invention, will appear more clearly in connec- 14) tion with the following description of e. preferred embodiment of my invention shown in-the accomponying drawing, wherein-.-'-

Fig. l is a vertical section through the retort. and

his. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view drown on an enlarged scale and illustrating a detail of the invention.

Referring now to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the retort generally indicated at 7 is upright and is m comprised of an inner refractory wall 8, an outer metallic shell e and an intermediate filling lll, preferably of dense materiel. The retort is provided with a door 11 at the bottom end with means (not shown) at the top for introducing g the charge of cool.

Initiation of the heat is brought about by an electrical resistor means 12 such as a tubular member filled with coke. The retort has a low potential electrode 13 and o high potential electre it for the resistor or starting fuse.

lie the construction of the retort is not one which tends to produce electrical leakage, is may sometimes occur and in order to make certain that it will not occur or that it will be capable of being controlled, 1 preferably construot the metallic shell 9 in two or more sections with o. gap or gaps such as the one shown at 15 therebetween providing electrical insulation joints. v

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the bottom section of the shell and the top section of the shell have brackets 16 and connecting bolts 17. The connecting bolts are insulated as at 18- in the upper brackets, the insulation sleeve'being held in place by any suitable means such as taping 19. An annular member 20 is supported on the lower brackets as by welding and provides a space within which insulating material 21 may be carried, such insulating material closing the gap. If desired, the upper section of the shell may be reinforced by a sleeve 22.

The liquid products of distillation drain of! at 28 and the gaseous products may be drawn of! at any desired point. A plurality of ofltakes 14 are shown in the side well of the retort for this puss, end an additional ofitake 25 up! pears at the bottom.

Attention is called to the loot tt various features herein disclosed are described and claimed in one or more of the following of my copending applications: Serial No. tsetse, filed October 18, 1930, serial No. 489,532, filed October 18, 1930, Serial No. detest, illed October 18, 1930, Serial No. 489,535, ed Qctoberls, 193d, M

Serial No. 439,536, filed Qctober 18, 1930.

I claim;-

1. Coal distillation spparetus including an elongated reiroctory lining defining a retort chomber,-eleetrode moons at opposite ends of said chamber for the passage of current thro the coal to be z-itilled, and an elongated metallic shellsurrounding said lining, said shell being composed of two spaced sections together with insulating material at the space between said sections, bolts securing the sections to each other and insulation for the bolts.

2. Coal distillation apparatus including on eloated refractory lining defining a retort chamber, closure means at opposite ends of the Q9 chamber, electrode means fastened to the closure means, said electrode means being exposed to the coal to be distilled in order to provlde'ior passage of an electrical current therethrough. and an elongated metallic shell surrounding as said lining, the shell being annularly split termediate its ends whereby to provide an annular gap for insulation of the two portions of the shell and thus prevent leakage of current between the electrode means, together with. means spanning said gap for securing the two parts of the shell together, the last mentioned means including insulated'securlng bolts.

' HAROLD STEVENS. 

